ACAS early conciliation

What it is

Before you can make most employment tribunal claims you must tell ACAS. ACAS then offers early conciliation: a free, confidential service where a conciliator talks to you and your employer to see if the problem can be settled without a tribunal.

Taking part in the conversations is voluntary, but notifying ACAS is not.

How it works

1. Notify ACAS online or by phone. You need your details and your employer’s name and address.
2. A conciliator contacts you to talk about what happened and what you want.
3. If you agree, they contact your employer. Conciliation can now last up to 12 weeks.
4. If it settles, the agreement is usually written on an ACAS form called a COT3.
5. If it does not settle, or you choose not to take part, ACAS issues a certificate with a number. You need that number to make a tribunal claim.

Your deadline

The days between ACAS receiving your notification (Day A) and you receiving the certificate (Day B) do not count towards the time limit. If your time limit would end less than a month after Day B, you get until one month after Day B.

ACAS helpline: 0300 123 1100 (free advice).

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• What a tribunal claim involves